EV maker Nio denied on Sunday allegations that its mass-market sub-brand Onvo engaged in orchestrated online attacks against rival carmakers, calling the claims defamatory and vowing legal action.
The company issued a public statement over the weekend on its Legal-dedicated account on Weibo.
The Shanghai-based EV maker said that several Chinese-language social media accounts circulated screenshots aiming to show Onvo employees coordinating smear campaigns and making cryptocurrency payments to online trolls.
“These claims are completely untrue and constitute malicious slander and defamation against Onvo and our staff,” Nio said.
The company accused a popular tech reviewer operating under the name ‘Awen Reviews Tech’ and other unnamed accounts of “deliberately fabricating and spreading rumors.”
Nio said the widely shared image allegedly showing whistleblower evidence was “entirely fabricated” and “AI-generated false content.”
The EV maker added that it had reported the matter to public security authorities and would pursue legal action against those responsible “to protect the legitimate rights of the company and its employees, and to uphold a fair and competitive environment within the industry.”
Nio opened the “Nio Legal Department” account on the social media platform Weiboin May 2023, aiming to fight false information on social media.
Onvo, launched in May 2024, is Nio’s first sub-brand. Last December, the second sub-brand Firefly was launched with initial deliveries beggining in April.
Nio stressed in its statement that the company “has always adhered to legal and compliant operations” and “firmly opposes any form of online smear campaigns or the use of paid internet trolls.”
In the final weeks of 2024, Nio filed lawsuits against individuals accused of creating and spreading false rumors about the automaker.
The rumors, which circulated on Chinese social media in November, claimed that Nio and Shenzhen-based giant BYD had formed a joint venture named BYD-Nio Auto Group.
Below is the complete statement from Nio released on Sunday.
“Recently, certain online accounts have maliciously published false information targeting our company and employees, deliberately fabricating and spreading rumors such as “Onvo employees involved in orchestrating smear campaigns” and “hiring paid trolls to attack competitors.”
These claims are completely untrue and constitute malicious slander and defamation against Onvo and our staff.
We have noted that accounts such as “Awen Reviews Tech” have reposted and commented on these claims without verifying their authenticity.
A widely circulated image purporting to be a whistleblower screenshot, containing so-called “cryptocurrency transaction details” and “compiled evidence,” is entirely fabricated and consists of AI-generated false content.
Nio has always adhered to legal and compliant operations and firmly opposes any form of online smear campaigns or the use of paid internet trolls.
In response to this defamation, we have filed a report with the public security authorities and will pursue legal action against those responsible to protect the legitimate rights of the company and its employees, and to uphold a fair and competitive environment within the industry.”
